A5062558841- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Gut microbiota and health
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Mast cells and histamine
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Infant Nutrition and Health
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Infant Health and Development
- Dermatology and Skin Diseases
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Coffee research and impacts
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
2014-2025
National Zoological Park
2014-2025
Conservation Biology Institute
2019-2025
Genomics (United Kingdom)
2025
Vanderbilt University
2023-2024
Georgetown University Medical Center
2023-2024
Georgetown University
2023-2024
George Washington University
2023-2024
University of Maryland, College Park
2014-2021
James Madison University
2012
Emerging infectious diseases are reducing biodiversity on a global scale. Recently, the emergence of chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans resulted in rapid declines populations European fire salamanders. Here, we screened more than 5000 amphibians from across four continents and combined experimental assessment pathogenicity with phylogenetic methods to estimate threat that this infection poses amphibian diversity. Results show B. is restricted to, but highly pathogenic for,...
Abstract The amphibian skin microbiome is recognized for its role in defence against pathogens, including the deadly fungal pathogen B atrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Yet, we have little understanding of evolutionary and ecological processes that structure these communities, especially salamanders closely related species. We investigated patterns distribution bacterial communities on P lethodon salamander across host species environments. Quantifying contributes to our how...
Pathogens compete with host microbiomes for space and resources. Their shared environment impacts pathogen-microbiome-host interactions, which can lead to variation in disease outcome. The skin microbiome of red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) reduce infection by the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) at moderate loads, high species richness abundance competitors as putative mechanisms. However, it is unclear if epizootic Bd loads across temperatures. We conducted a...
How host mucosal defenses interact, and influence disease outcome is critical in understanding against pathogens. A more detailed needed of the interactions between functioning its pathogen defense.
Symbiotic bacteria may dampen the impacts of infectious diseases on hosts by inhibiting pathogen growth. However, our understanding generality inhibition different bacterial taxa across genotypes and environmental conditions is limited. Bacterial inhibitory properties are particular interest for amphibian-killing fungal pathogens (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis [Bd] B. salamandrivorans [Bsal]), which probiotic applications as conservation strategies have been proposed. We quantified strength...
ABSTRACT Microbiome science has provided groundbreaking insights into human and animal health. Similarly, evolutionary medicine – the incorporation of eco‐evolutionary concepts primarily medical theory practice is increasingly recognised for its novel perspectives on modern diseases. Studies host–microbe relationships have been expanded beyond humans to include a wide range taxa, adding new facets our understanding ecology, evolution, behaviour, In this review, we propose that broader...
Widespread population declines in terrestrial Plethodon salamanders occurred by the 1980s throughout Appalachian Mountains, center of global salamander diversity, with no evident recovery. We tested hypothesis that historic introduction and spread pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) into eastern US was followed declines. expected to detect elevated prevalence Bd prior as observed for Central American plethodontids. 1,498 12 species (892 museum specimens, 606 wild...
Abstract We engaged pet salamander owners in the United States to screen their animals for two amphibian chytrid fungal pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ) and B . salamandrivorans Bsal ). provided with a sampling kit instructional video swab skin of animals. received 639 samples from 65 species by mail, tested them using qPCR. detected on 1.3% salamanders (95% CI 0.0053–0.0267) did not detect 0.0000–0.0071). If is present U.S. population salamanders, it occurs at very low...
Abstract Background The gut microbiome is important to immune health, metabolism, and hormone regulation. Understanding host–microbiome relationships in captive animals may lead mediating long term health issues common animals. For instance, zoo managed African elephants ( Loxodonta africana ) Asian Elephas maximus experience low reproductive rates, high body condition, gastrointestinal (GI) issues. We leveraged an extensive collection of fecal samples records from the Elephant Welfare Study...
Milk production is an ancient adaptation that unites all mammals. contains a microbiome can contribute to offspring health and microbial-immunological development. We generated comprehensive milk dataset (16S rRNA gene) for the class Mammalia, representing 47 species from placental superorders, determine processes structuring microbiomes. show across exposes maternal bacterial archaeal symbionts throughout lactation. Deterministic of environmental selection accounted 20% assembly processes;...
The relationships between gut microbiota and animal health are an important consideration increasingly influential in the management of wild ex situ endangered species, such as cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ). To better understand these relationships, fresh fecal samples currently required a non-invasive alternative for microbiome. Unfortunately, challenging to collect wild. This study had two aims: 1) determine optimal collection time point feces after deposit their native environment Namibia...
Probiotic therapies have been suggested for amelioration efforts of wildlife disease such as chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium spp. in amphibians. However, there is a lack information on how probiotic application affects resident microbial communities and immune responses. To better understand these interactions, we hypothesized that would alter community composition host expression Xenopus laevis. Accordingly, applied three amphibian-derived anti-Batrachochytrium bacteria strains...
Chemical investigation of a salamander-mucus-associated Pseudomonas tolaasii strain led to the isolation and chemical characterization salamandamide A, new lipo-dipeptide, along with known lipopeptides pseudodesmin tolaasin class. Genome mining revealed that no specific gene cluster codes for biosynthesis A. Stereochemical analyses mutagenesis experiments linked lipo-dipeptide A NRPS lipo-nonapeptide pseudodesmin. Further investigations showed this finding appears be broader concept all...
ABSTRACT Diverse bacteria inhabit amphibian skin; some of those inhibit growth the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis . Yet there has been no systematic survey anti- B. across localities, species, and elevations. This is important given geographic taxonomic variations in susceptibility to Our collection sites were at locations within Appalachian Mountains where previous sampling had indicated low prevalence. We determined numbers identities on 61 Plethodon salamanders (37 P....
Captive management of many wildlife species can be challenging, with individuals displaying health disorders that are not generally described in the wild population. Retrospective studies have identified gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, particular inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as second leading cause captive adult red wolf (Canis rufus) mortality. Recent molecular show imbalanced gut microbial composition is tightly linked to IBD domestic dog. The goal present study was address two main...
Milk is a complex biochemical fluid that includes macronutrients and microbiota, which, together, are known to facilitate infant growth, mediate the colonization of microbiomes, promote immune development. Examining factors shape milk microbiomes milk-nutrient interplay across host taxa critical resolving evolution environment. Using comparative approach four cercopithecine primate species housed at three facilities under similar management conditions, we test for respective influences local...
Abstract Phylosymbiosis is an association between host-associated microbiome composition and host phylogeny. This pattern can arise via the evolution of traits, habitat preferences, diets, co-diversification hosts microbes. Understanding drivers phylosymbiosis vital for modelling disease-microbiome interactions manipulating microbiomes in multi-host systems. study quantifies Appalachian salamander skin context infection by fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), while accounting...
Abstract Life processes of ectothermic vertebrates are intimately linked to the temperature their environment, influencing metabolism, reproduction, behaviour and immune responses. In amphibians infected by generalist chytrid pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ), host survival, infection prevalence intensity often temperature‐ and/or seasonally dependent. However, transcriptional underpinnings thermal differences in responses remain unknown. Measuring impact on is a key component...
Abstract Phenotypes are the target of selection and affect ability organisms to persist in variable environments. can be influenced directly by genes and/or phenotypic plasticity. The amphibian‐killing fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has a global distribution, unusually broad host range, high genetic diversity. Phenotypic plasticity may an important process that allows this pathogen infect hundreds species diverse We quantified variation nine Bd genotypes from two lineages (Global...
Coffea arabica is a highly traded commodity worldwide, and its plantations are habitat to wide range of organisms. Coffee farmers shifting away from traditional shade coffee farms in favor sun-intensive, higher yield farms, which can impact local biodiversity. Using plant-associated microorganisms biofertilizers, particularly fungi collected forests, increase crop yields has gained traction among producers. However, the taxonomic spatial distribution many soil, nearby forests biofertilizers...
We designed two probiotic treatments to control chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) on infected Panamanian golden frogs (Atelopus zeteki), a species that is thought be extinct in the wild due Bd. The first approach disrupted existing skin microbe community with antibiotics then exposed core frog (Diaphorobacter sp.) we genetically modified produce high titers of violacein, known antifungal compound. One day following treatment, engineered Diaphorobacter and...
Animal specimens in natural history collections are invaluable resources examining the historical context of pathogen dynamics wildlife and spillovers to humans. For example, may reveal new associations between bat species coronaviruses. However, RNA viruses difficult study because protocols for extracting from these have not been optimized. Advances made our ability recover nucleic acids formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples (FFPE) commonly used human clinical studies, yet other types...